Allardyce believes Pep Guardiola could be the making of John Stones at Manchester City.

The defender cost City £47.5m in the summer even though Stones is still regarded as work in progress.

Big Sam hopes Stones, 22, can blossom in the same way Gerard Pique did under Guardiola at Barcelona.

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“We don’t want potential do we? I want the thing, and right now”

Sam Allardyce

Allardyce said: “We don’t want potential do we? I want the thing, and right now. Potential is something that’s going to be great in the future. I want ‘right now’ and I think he’s got a great chance of becoming ‘right now’ working with City.

“People don’t realise Pep does focus quite a lot on defending. Oh yeah, not just wining the ball back.

“Pique was a little similar at Man United until he went to Barcelona then he became a good defender as well as a great attribute for Barcelona in possession. So he had both. That’s why he stayed there for so long.”

While Stones has been handed a vote of confidence, rookie striker Marcus Rashford’s days in the senior set-up appear on hold.

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STAR MAN: Allardyce hailed Stones

Rahsford’s meteoric rise at Manchester United saw him named in Roy Hodgson’s Euro squad but he now finds himself out of the picture under Jose Mourinho.

Allardyce added: “Rashford is not playing now. It makes it harder for me to select him, as exciting as he was last year and how he burst on the scene.

“At such a young age, do I say: ‘Go play in the under-21s. Get used to international football there, play regularly and it will help you eventually, hopefully break back into the United team and then get into the England senior team.’ You’ve got all those scenarios to consider.”